With the autumn series just around the corner, rugby correspondent Andy Howell stirs up the selection debate by suggesting Wales should drop some of their out-of-form Grand Slam-winning favourites...

If Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley was going to pick his team to face Argentina in 12 days time at the Millennium Stadium on form, he would have some tough decisions to make.

Picking on reputation should only count for so much because it’s clear several of Howley’s big names are not showing anywhere near the form they exhibited during last season’s World Cup and Six Nations Grand Slam.

As far as I’m concerned, if a player is not consistently delivering the goods for his region he shouldn’t be in the Wales team.

Let’s start at the very top with Sam Warburton. I don’t know what’s wrong with the captain but, apart from the win at the Dragons, he has been pretty anonymous for the Blues.

I tracked him during last Saturday night’s Halloween horror show against Leinster in Dublin – when some of the Blues’ so-called stars were so far off the pace during a 59-22 RaboDirect Pro12 battering it was downright embarrassing – and saw the openside flanker jog from ruck to ruck, stand on sentry duty and hardly get his hands on the ball or make many tackles.

His up-and-coming back-row colleague Josh Navidi made far more of an impact, while Warburton’s main rival for the Wales No 7 jersey, clever and skilled footballer Justin Tipuric, has been consistently excellent for the Ospreys.

Centre Jamie Roberts is another worrying case with seasoned Ireland international Gordon D’Arcy making mince-meat of him as large parts of the Blues defence inexplicably went awol from the kick-off against the Heineken Cup holders.

Roberts’ contract at Cardiff Arms Park expires at the end of the season and, even if he wanted to stay, it’s not a guarantee they would want to keep him because his departure would free up money to spend on players who are available for every match.

Then there’s Rhys Priestland at the Scarlets. He’s been so inconsistent, mis-kicking an up-and-under so badly aganst Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday night that it resulted in a penalty being conceded which gave Edinburgh the lead and almost cost the Scarlets the game.

Even when Priestland managed to snatch the spoils with a sitter for the Scarlets from in front of the Edinburgh posts his penalty was hardly convincing, passing through too near an upright for comfort.

Over in France, loose-head prop Gethin Jenkins has hardly started for Toulon while scrum-half Mike Phillips has been panned by the critics at Bayonne.

So there’s plenty for Howley to consider. He could give the ailing regions the leg-up and support they deserve by bluntly stating he’s picking on form, not past deeds for Wales or work at their boot-camp in Poland.

You suspect that shock to the system would provoke the Wales stars who have been off the pace for their regional teams to pull out their fingers.

Whatever, here’s my Wales team to face Argentina on November 10, and it’s based on what should count above anything else – form.

The full-back can be excused from much of the criticism that has come the Blues’ way because he put his body on the line in Leinster. His goal-kicking hasn’t been quite as accurate as normal but he’s run intelligently and defended bravely this season.

Wales are quite blessed in the position because Liam Williams has excited for the Scarlets and there’s an option outside the squad in the experienced Lee Byrne at Clermont Auvergne, while Richard Fussell has been quite superb for the Ospreys.

How the creative Fussell wasn’t at least in the 35-man Wales squad for the autumn Tests remains a mystery.

14 Alex Cuthbert

Didn’t fare so well defensively in Leinster but his attacking strength, speed and skill has made him one of the most dangerous strike-runners in European rugby.

He scored his latest scintillating try in Dublin, timing his run to perfection, and picking a wonderful line to go inside and then outside the defence.

13 Jonathan Davies

There have been fears over his fitness since he limped out of the Scarlets’ Heineken Cup implosion at Clermont Auvergne with a groin problem after earlier finishing off a move in style for a touch-down.

Davies had groin surgery during the off-season and would be Wales’ first-choice centre, based on form this term when he has shown defensive zeal and strong-running.

12 Ashley Beck

The centre partnership of Beck and Davies proved dangerous as Wales came close to winning the second and third Tests in Australia during the summer.

Beck made his international debut against the Wallabies after ousting Scott Williams and wants to wear the No 12 jersey when Argentina come to Cardiff.

Jamie Roberts has returned from knee surgery but has done little for the Blues to suggest he should start for Wales ahead of Beck. Leaving Roberts out might provoke the required response on the playing field.

11 George North

No need for debate here with the powerhouse bagging two tries against Edinburgh, his second reminiscent of the iconic Jonah Lomu in his pomp when he stormed over the line swatting defenders aside.

But the task for Wales is to get on the front foot so they are able to get the best out of North, Cuthbert and Halfpenny.

10 James Hook

Calmly knocked over a late drop-goal and penalty to allow Perpignan to snatch a 17-13 French Championship victory over Racing Metro last weekend.

His performances at outside-half have been winning plaudits from Perpignan’s supporters and the French media.

While there’s been no sign of nerves with Hook, Wales’ incumbent play-maker Rhys Priestland has been worryingly inconsistent this campaign.

The Wales management haven’t shown faith in Hook at 10, but again, if we’re going on form he has to get the nod.

9 Mike Phillips

Scrum-half is of major concern because Phillips has been criticised at a Bayonne team struggling for survival in the Top 14.

They were crushed 50-0 by leaders Toulon at the weekend, Phillips lasting 61 minutes before being replaced by Cedric Garcia.

Yet understudy Lloyd Williams has struggled with the Blues while former Wales captain Howley, a scrum-half, has ignored the claims of Gareth Davies.

The aggressive and lively Davies makes things happen at the Scarlets but form, this season or last, doesn’t seem to count for much. I tell you what, I’d have Davies in the team, but then how can he be when he’s not even in the extended squad?

Next page: Forwards

So, who are the in-form forwards that Andy Howell thinks should get the nod. Do you agree?

While Gethin Jenkins has only started twice for Toulon, James has been shining for Bath in the Aviva Premiership.

Jenkins is behind England international Andrew Sheridan in the pecking order in France because of his inferior scrummaging.

And what will Argentina bring to the Millennium Stadium? A power-packed scrum.

So it’s James for me with Jenkins coming off the bench to play the impact role he has been performing at Toulon.

2 Richard Hibbard

Hooker isn’t a problem position if Howley picks on regional form because Hibbard has been quite terrific for the Ospreys, picking up a string of man of the match awards.

He offers a ball-carrying and scrummaging presence but it’s important he keeps his discipline in check and doesn’t give away the unnecessary penalties he’s been prone to concede.

Whether Hibbard faces Argentina could be down to whether Wales forgive him for the two offences he committed to condemn them to a heart-breaking second Test defeat in Australia last June.

3 Aaron Jarvis

The absence of the crocked Adam Jones means Howley is facing a quandary at tight-head prop.

There have been calls for James to switch sides and play out of position at No 3 but it’s been a stop-gap measure in the past which hasn’t really worked.

It wasn’t the sending off of skipper Sam Warburton that cost Wales a World Cup final appearance but the early loss of Jones with a calf injury.

I’d give the improving Aaron Jarvis a debut because Wales need to know whether he’s up to it at international level. If it doesn’t work, then move James and bring Jenkins on at loose-head.

4 Alun Wyn Jones

His passion for the Ospreys has been a driving force in their Wales players turning it on for the region and he would be my choice to take over the captaincy if Sam Warburton was to be left out by Howley.

5 Ian Evans

The towering and athletic forward gave Wales the insurance they had often lacked previously during the Six Nations, namely being a dependable and winning option at the line-out.

Evans has been in form for the Ospreys and has a remarkable winning record at international record. Forms a balanced combination with Alun Wyn.

6 Ryan Jones

The versatile, treble Six Nations Grand Slam winner has been among Wales’ most influential campaigners this term and is a perfect replacement for broken ankle victim Dan Lydiate.

Jones isn’t so destructive but is more constructive and is able to use his vast experience to identify problems in the heat of battle.

7 Justin Tipuric

Form should determine who is at openside flanker, not the fact that Sam Warburton has already been named captain for the autumn series.

I fear form won’t be the criteria used by Howley but, if it was, Tipuric would be streets ahead of the disappointingly out of touch Warburton.

Although he’s probably not as strong over the ball as Warburton, Tipuric reads the game so well, is quick, highly-skilled and has an ability to be in the right place at the right time.

8 Toby Faletau

The injury to his Dragons pal Lydiate has restricted Wales’ choice at No 8 with Ryan Jones being the other realistic option.

Faletau started the season slowly but has shown signs of his improving form in recent weeks.

When he went off with ankle and knee injuries against Ulster last weekend, Dragons trailed 22-16. Without him, they fell apart and lost 46-19. Enough said.